Around here, they say “God created the earth and man the Douro”, and to see the river’s banks sculpted into steep terraces supporting row upon row of vines is to understand the immense amount of manual labour lavished on this landscape over 20 centur..

Leaving Sabrosa, the N 323 descends towards the Douro looking down on the steep-sided valley of the River Pinhão to the left. The slopes are streaked with terraces covered in vines among which stand the estate houses (quintas). About 5km before Pinhã..